QP V - No Dashboard lights at all after fitting new battery

[Tomo]

Hi All,
I am hoping that some body can shed some light on this issue for me; I'm stumped!
Some of you may remember that I bought my QP during lockdown from Dick Lovett. There was an interesting thread about it, long and short that I paid too much for it! I accept that in a way, but I feel as though I have had the best two years since I bought it (I've done 6k miles in it). I've taken onboard the suggestions that were passed and had the car undersealed and major serviced by Matt. I'm halfway through swapping the tyres for Michelins (will do the others ready for the winter), and the car has (finally) been fully detailed.
They're the good bits. I've been struggling the last few days with an electrical issue:
The battery has been holding it's charge less and less for the last couple of months, so I bought a new battery (image below). I read all the threads about changing the battery, so was fairly confident that things would go smoothly ........ but alas not.
After connecting in the new battery I'm left with no lights at all on the dashboard when I turn on the ignition. There are no clicks or anything.
Things I have found so far:
- I've checked the voltage on the other side of all of the 12V connectors/fuses that sit on the battery +ve and they all show 12V.
- Checked all the fuses I can find (Engine compartment, boot and drivers footwell).
- I've checked some of the other electrics, where all these seem to work fine: Electric seats, door locking and alarm, petrol flap opening, boot electric shutting. So I sort of know that the battery is ok and getting juice to some parts.
- I've re-seated and cleaned all the connections to the battery and the main earth strap connection from the battery to the car body.
- I've checked the voltage at the main fuse box in the engine compartment where the ignition fuses are; this is where it gets interesting. There is no power to this fuse box at all. The image is attached ..... what I'm not sure of is if that strap (bottom right) should be 12V (It looks as though it should be), if so then it's dead.

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I've trawled the forum for anybody experiencing anything similar, but I can't find anything ........ apologies if I have missed anything.
Thanks all.
Ian

 

[philw696]

Sorry to ask but you haven spiked the battery whilst fitting it ?
Tightening the positive and touching the body by any chance ?

 

[Tomo]

Hi Phil,
Thanks for replying. I have to confess that I didn't change the battery, my son did. He assures me not, but at this stage I need to investigate all eventualities.

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[spkennyuk]

Put a volt meter on the battery and see what the battery voltage is. Its always possible the new battery is a dud.

You could if you have another battery or car available run jump cables to piggy back your battery. ( dont jump start it) just turn the igntion on without starting the car. If you dash now lights up the new battery is likely the fault or the clamps may not be tight on the battery.

 

[philw696]

Hi Phil,
Thanks for replying. I have to confess that I didn't change the battery, my son did. He assures me not, but at this stage I need to investigate all eventualities.

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Having worked in Dealerships and Maserati was no different to Ford with Sales Staff changing batteries or jump starting cars because it's easy.
Then getting us technicians to sort out the blown control units.

 

[Tomo]

Put a volt meter on the battery and see what the battery voltage is. Its always possible the new battery is a dud.

You could if you have another battery or car available run jump cables to piggy back your battery. ( dont jump start it) just turn the igntion on without starting the car. If you dash now lights up the new battery is likely the fault or the clamps may not be tight on the battery.

I will measure this. I think the battery is ok. But I had a similar thought and reinstalled the original battery, which isn't a dud, it was just loosing it's effectiveness. With the original battery the symptoms are the same.

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[Tomo]

Having worked in Dealerships and Maserati was no different to Ford with Sales Staff changing batteries or jump starting cars because it's easy.
Then getting us technicians to sort out the blown control units.

I agree. I can only think that this is what's happened (sadly). If we assume this to be the case, any ideas on the QP V where I look for the culprit?

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[Gazcw]

I agree. I can only think that this is what's happened (sadly). If we assume this to be the case, any ideas on the QP V where I look for the culprit?

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Meter those fuses on the conmector? You could also try a total down power for 30 mins + to see if it resets itself. And pray to the gods of Italian electrics too.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

My only suggestion is to have the car recovered to a specialist. Electrics are fiddly, may require SD2 diagnostics and if you have blown the ECU it is likely going to require a specialist to replace it.

If you have no warning lights when turning ignition key to #1 position, and you have ruled out a dead replacement battery, then your car is dead. This suggests a fault high up the electrical tree.

 

[philw696]

Second the above it needs to be looked at properly and checked systematically.
Good Luck.

 

[Tomo]

Meter those fuses on the conmector? You could also try a total down power for 30 mins + to see if it resets itself. And pray to the gods of Italian electrics too.

"Things I have found so far:
- I've checked the voltage on the other side of all of the 12V connectors/fuses that sit on the battery +ve and they all show 12V."
Hi Gary, I did do this (with fingers crossed as well!), but no success.

 

[Tomo]

My only suggestion is to have the car recovered to a specialist. Electrics are fiddly, may require SD2 diagnostics and if you have blown the ECU it is likely going to require a specialist to replace

Second the above it needs to be looked at properly and checked systematically.

I'm starting to think that this is the case. I was looking for some low-hanging fruit, but it's clear that it's something more involved.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
I will post back when she's up and going again with the eventual solution.
Thanks for the Good Luck wishes

 

[Scaf]

My first MC lost all its dash lights (but drive annd worked perfectly) and it turned out to be a relay - no idea which one as it went to a specialist who sorted it.

 

[conaero]

You need to pull the plug to the body control module and leave it off for an hour.

Its situated above your toes where the carpet stops in the passenger front footwell.

Also, make sure your battery is tight and the piggyback cables that spur off the positive terminal are secure.

 

[Tomo]

My first MC lost all its dash lights (but drive annd worked perfectly) and it turned out to be a relay - no idea which one as it went to a specialist who sorted it.

That must be a bit disconcerting, still being able to drive with no dash lights!
The fuse box on my QP V (see image) in the engine does include relays and fuses for the ignition

What appears to be happening is that no power (12V) is getting to this fuse box at all, hence ignition/immobilizer etc are firing.
Very strange. A set of schematics for the QP V wiring would be useful, but nobody appears to have any; I've looked.

 

[Tomo]

You need to pull the plug to the body control module and leave it off for an hour.

Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. This is very helpful. There are a couple of pictures of the BCM, but this is what I find for the latter QP V's:

If this is the correct one, which plug am I disconnecting?

 

[Tomo]

You need to pull the plug to the body control module and leave it off for an hour.

Its situated above your toes where the carpet stops in the passenger front footwell.

Hi Matt,
I found this module behind the fuses in the drivers side; there were only an AC and sunroof module under the passenger side that I could see.
I've removed this module from the car.
Is this the correct one do you think?

 

[CatmanV2]

That looks like the body module to me (NBC on the sticker)
Part number (235153) seems to match as well

C

 

[Tomo]

That looks like the body module to me (NBC on the sticker)

It's strange, because when I search for the body module there are conflicting images that the other one I posted an image is the one fitted to later cars; but I agree with you, all the evidence is that this is it. Thanks.
I shall re-fit this today, hoping that the nighttime unplugged will have sorted the gremlins.
Fingers crossed!

 

[Tomo]

You need to pull the plug to the body control module and leave it off for an hour.

Hi Matt, I've re-connected the body control module after leaving out overnight, but this has had no effect; still no dashboard lights.